By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, July 20, 2023
The Grand Slam king is on course for a Queen City return.
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic is on the entry list for next month’s Western & Southern Open and will make his first appearance on U.S. soil since 2021 in Cincinnati.
The Western & Southern Open is set for August 12-20th.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion will join Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s field.
It will be Djokovic’s first appearance in Cincinnati since 2019 when he reached the semifinals bowing to Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In 2020, when the tournament was staged at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Djokovic defeated Milos Raonic to capture the title.
Djokovic is a two-time Cincinnati champion. In 2018, Djokovic defeated seven-time Cincinnati champion Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-4, to claim his maiden Western & Southern Open crown.
Borna Coric defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(0), 6-2 to capture the 2022 Cincinnati title.
The 36-year-old unvaccinated Serbian superstar was unable to enter the U.S. under prior COVID-19 policy for international travelers. That policy prevented Djokovic from playing Cincinnati, the US Open as well as the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami.
However, restrictions were lifted on May 11th, which means Djokovic is eligible to enter the United States and play Cincinnati.
The initial entry list includes the world’s top 41 men and 39 women, 14 Grand Slam champions, eight current or former world No. 1-ranked players and 11 past tournament champions.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
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